Presented by Social Justice Education
Colloquium: Beyhan Farhadi on Online Learning and the Politics of Access in Public Education
On the afternoon of February 27th, join us for a colloquium featuring Dr. Beyhan Farhadi, Assistant Professor of Educational Policy and Equity in the the Department of Department of Leadership, Higher and Adult Education, OISE, on her forthcoming book (University of Toronto Press, January 2026).
This work challenges the myth that online education can liberate learning from the constraints of traditional in-person schooling, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Farhadi examines the ethical, social, and political dimensions of online learning, including how the notion of 鈥渃hoice鈥 can commodify public education and exacerbate inequalities. Drawing connections between the pandemic鈥檚 impact on schooling and the broader marketization of education, the book interrogates whether technology can genuinely address issues of quality, equity, and access in public education, while highlighting concerns around surveillance, privacy, and corporate influence.
Date and time: Friday, February 27 from 3 - 5 PM
Location: OISE building, room tbd.
Refreshments will be provided.
to secure your spot!
Please contact tatjana.grabeljsek@utoronto.ca if you have any questions.
This event is part of the Social Justice Education 2026 Colloquium Series, featuring talks from respected scholars. Check out the next events in the series:
Jan 23, 2026: Abigail Bakan and Yasmeen Abu-Laban on Human Rights and the United Nations
Mar 27, 2026: Dr. Nisrin Elamin on Land, Capital and Empire-making in Central Sudan
